Elliott Schuessler IV (b. 1983)
Elliott is an American painter living and working in Nashville from his studio within the Lower Broadway historic district. He also keeps his studio in the Gaslamp district of downtown San Diego.
His journey as an artist began in his mid-thirties while on a trip to Prague, with just two cans of spray paint on the city’s famed Lennon Wall. He loved the freedom on contributing to the artwork it held and did so, everyday, for the next few months.
Painting gave Schuessler the sense of freedom that he had long been looking for and when he returned home he invested what money and support he had into art supplies. As he transitioned from walls to canvas, his style quickly evolved to convey a sense of life through strong textures and bold movements. One tool he strictly avoids - the paintbrush.
“I find brushes to be really restrictive,” he says. “They’re so delicate, and I don’t feel the freedom with them that I do with spray paint or scrapers. They are just not fun to use.”
Elliott primarily uses a combination of acrylic, oil, ink, spray paint and metal flake to create his artwork.